CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Overall COVID-19 cases reported among staff and students in Illinois schools remain relatively small, but we're only getting a snapshot of what's happening in the schools.
Illinois public health officials report COVID-19 outbreaks in least at 44 school buildings throughout the state.
That, according to figures released to the Tribune and Propublica Illinois, which reported Illinois doesn’t give the number of cases linked to schools or which schools have been affected — even as parents and educators try to assess whether in-person learning is safe.
We typically find out when individual schools or districts release information.
With more than 1,800 Illinois public schools operating in person at least part time, along with an unknown number of private schools, the outbreaks represent a tiny fraction of Illinois schools in session, according to an analysis of state education data. According to the Tribune, most outbreaks have been small — two or three cases at each school — but at least 105 students and 73 employees at public and private schools have been affected.
And many cases in younger people have been tied to gatherings outside school.
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The Department of Public Health reported more than 8,600 Illinois children between 5 and 17 have tested positive between mid-August, when school resumed, and early this month. That's an average of about 180 new infections each day, since school returned.
More than twice the number between March and early August.
Fewer than five school-aged children have died of the disease, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.